Edition #15 | February 18, 2026

🍴Your Tuesday Just Got Better🍴

The 44th Annual Taste of the Triangle is bringing fresh flavor to Beaumont Civic Center tonight, turning an ordinary Tuesday into a feast for local food lovers.

More than 30 Southeast Texas restaurants, chefs, and food trucks will be serving up samples, showcasing culinary creativity and emerging food trends.

Look for crowd favorites alongside adventurous newcomers, including fusion concepts and tasty mashups like Vietnamese-Cajun plates and traditional gumbo.

Urban Roots owner Delilah Johnson joins a lineup that proves Beaumont’s food scene is evolving, not standing still.

Every $38 ticket helps fund hospitality scholarships at Lamar University, supporting future chefs while you enjoy innovative local bites.

The event runs tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Beaumont Civic Center.

If you need an excuse to get out, this is it—good food, local pride, and a chance to shape the next chapter for Beaumont’s dynamic dining.

Q: What's the difference between a Beaumont foodie and a regular Beaumont resident?

A: About $38 and a Tuesday night at the Civic Center.

See you there. (Seriously, go.)

The Taste of the Triangle supports scholarships at which local university and what department?

The Taste of the Triangle has been running for 44 years - that means it started in 1982, the same year Michael Jackson released "Thriller." Some things get better with age. (Looking at you, Beaumont food scene.)

Also: Last year's event sold out 4 days earlier than the year before. Beaumont is showing up for local restaurants, and restaurants are responding with better food and new concepts.

Beaumont Police Chief Tim Ocnaschek reports a decline in violent crime, marking the second straight year of improvement and a rare 100% homicide clearance rate for 2025.

Despite these encouraging statistics, many Beaumont residents feel uneasy, especially after seeing viral social media posts or reading sensational headlines.

The gap between public perception and reality is shaped by high-profile incidents and the instant circulation of alarming content across Facebook groups and neighborhood chats.

Still, police credit increased tips from the community and better technology for the progress.

Chief Ocnaschek emphasizes that lasting safety depends on residents reporting suspicious activity, supporting one another, and staying engaged locally—not just on the work of law enforcement.

The challenge now is to align local perceptions with actual crime trends, sparking conversations about how data, communication, and community partnerships can foster a greater sense of security.

No one in Southeast Texas should have to hear a cancer diagnosis and feel forced to travel hours for care.

Yet, for many local families, that’s been the hard reality.

Riceland Healthcare CEO Saad Javed, who grew up in Beaumont, has seen firsthand how limited regional cancer care leaves patients facing long, stressful trips outside the area.

Now, Riceland is changing that.

A new cancer center — opening Summer 2026 — will bring radiation and medical oncology, chemotherapy, infusion, and early detection programs all to their Beaumont campus.

This expansion means patients can access advanced treatment locally, surrounded by their support systems and compassionate staff.

Joining Beaumont’s existing centers, Riceland’s facility expands care options for a growing region.

Early detection remains critical — and with new local resources, getting screened and getting help is easier than ever.

Because Beaumont deserves care that stays in Beaumont.

THIS WEEK & BEYOND

THIS WEEK:

• TONIGHT (Tues, Feb 18): Taste of the Triangle, Civic Center, 6:30pm - GET TICKETS NOW
• Also Tuesday: Gov. Greg Abbott "Get Out the Vote" rally in Beaumont
• Thursday (Feb 19): FREE Lunar New Year Lion Dance, Riverfront Park, 5pm (family-friendly!)
• Saturday (Feb 22): Eagles Tribute - "Take It To The Limit," Beaumont Civic Center, 7:30pm

COMING UP:

• Feb 27-28: "Sewing Peace with Quilts" - Quilt Show & Market, Civic Center ($10)
• March 7: Symphony of Southeast Texas - "Aretha: A Tribute," Julie Rogers Theatre
• March 21-31: South Texas State Fair (YMBL) - less than 5 weeks away!

From Page to Screen: My Favorite Book-to-Movie & TV Adaptations 

I love a good book-to-movie or TV show adaptation. There’s something special about watching a story you loved on the page come to life on screen. I’ve learned that going in with the mindset that it won’t be 100% like the book makes the experience way more enjoyable.

Below are five of my favorite adaptations (plus a bonus pick this week!), along with some upcoming adaptations of books I’ve read and loved—and a few more that are either already out or coming soon that are still on my TBR.

The Taste of the Triangle supports scholarships for Lamar University's Hospitality Management Program, plus the Texas Restaurant Association's Education Foundation and the Texas Chefs Association. Your ticket tonight literally helps train the next generation of Southeast Texas chefs.

ABOUT THE BEAUMONT CURRENT

Where the city comes into focus

We're here to help you see what's really happening in Beaumont - the opportunities, the events, the solutions, and the reasons to get involved instead of staying home.

Want to contribute a story idea? Reply to this email.

Know a local business we should spotlight? Tell us about them.

Have a question about Beaumont? We'll answer it in an upcoming Community Q&A.

Your Voice Matters

We switched to TUESDAYS so you don't miss events like tonight's Taste of the Triangle. Is this working for you?

Hit reply and tell us:

• Going to Taste of Triangle tonight? Which restaurant are you most excited about?
• Feel safer or less safe in Beaumont? We want real answers, not what you think we want to hear.
• What story should we cover next week? You tell us what matters.

The Beaumont Current grows when you share it. Forward this to someone who needs to know what's actually happening in Beaumont.

See you out there (especially tonight)

The Beaumont Current Team